The hangout of the Cretan in the castle of Kritinia

Often the best image of a place, you do not get it from the famous professionals of the area, but from where you do not expect it. Usually these surprises come from some fanatics who with dedication to their work - which is their way and philosophy of life - create scenes that steal your heart. Something like this happened to me while going to visit it castle of Crete and I fell into a glade of life and authenticity.

The castle of Kritinia stands imposing in its area Kameirou Skala and next to the village of Kritinia 55km. from her city Rhodes. The village is built on a hill and has panoramic sea views. The settlement was created by Cretan refugees, during the Turkish occupation, which is why it was named Kritinia, a name that means “New Crete”. The dialect spoken by the villagers, their traditional costume, music, dances and adjectives reveal their Cretan origin.

The castle of Kritinia a mixture of Byzantine and Medieval style, has a rectangular shape and has a NW view of the sea and Halki.

In the parking lot, just before going up the stairs of the castle, a Cretan, the George of Crete made it haunt of.

In one garden cultivates his vegetables, which he cuts on the spot and offers them fresh to his customers.

At another point, among the trees, he has made corners with his own improvised constructions, living rooms, benches, hammocks, each at a distance from each other and so guests feel like they are in a personal orchard. For passers-by it serves beers, soft drinks, coffees. For food, appetizers are usually to his liking.

Ο George of Crete, a figure reminiscent of Alexis Zorba, comes to take an order, sees faces and judges. We were lucky enough to serve the bird's milk. Cheeses from local cheesemakers, cucumbers with afrina salt, picked from the rocks of the coast, kritamo pickle, hot arugula just uprooted with its knife and a variety of stuffed, tomatoes, zucchini flowers, kale and dolomoldes. In the end, George together with his fascinating companion offered us patelinas, sea snails and for dessert yogurt with a slide (a poem).

A human experience in the pine tree of Kritinia, a few steps from its castle.